&#34;short thumbing&#34; two-step abutment for feed latches

ABSTRACT

A NOVEL FEED LATCH FOR USE IN FIREARMS. TWO ABUTMENTS ARE PROVIDED ON THE LATCH BAR INSTEAD OF THE USUAL SINGLE ABUTMENT. THE OBJECT IS THE ELININATION OF A JAMMING CONDITION CAUSED BY &#34;SHORT THUMBING&#34; IS A SHOTSHELL INTO THE MAGAZINE TUBE. &#34;SHORT THUMBING&#34; GENERALLY DESCRIBES THE CARLESS OR INADVERTENT ERROR OF IMPROPERLY LOADING A MAGAZINE TUBE SO THE SHELL FAILS TO ENGAGE WITH THE FEED LATCH ABUTMENT. THIS ALLOWS THE SHOTSHELL TO &#34;FLOAT FREE&#34; IN THE RECEIVER, AND VERY OFTEN JAM BETWEEN THE SHELL CARRIER AND THE BREECH BLCOK CARRIER. THE PRESENT INVENTION CONTEMPLATES PLACING A SECOND STEP ON THE FEED LATCH WHICH WILL ENGAGE A &#34;SHORT THUMBED&#34; SHOTSHELL THT HAD NEVER ENGAGED THE FIRST ABUTMENT. THE TWO-STEP LATCH CAN BE ADAPTED TO A VARIETY OF FEED SYSTEMS DUE TO ITS OVERALL UNIVERSALITY AND PARTICULARLY BECAUSE IT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH OR DIRECTLY INFLUENCE THE FEEDING OPERATION OF THE FIREARM.

Nov. 9, 19 71 A. L. NELSON 3,618,241

"SHORT THUMBING" TWO-STEP ABUTMENT FOR FEED LATCHES Fig. 1. 2|

Filed Sept. 4., 1969 MMZWMMMM Z5 Z6 Z7 49 Inventor Adolph L. Ne\son Attomqgs United States Patent US. Cl. 42-17 R 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A novel feed latch for use in firearms. Two abutments are provided on the latch bar instead of the usual single abutment. The object is the elimination of a jamming condition caused by short thumbing a shotshell into the magazine tube. Short thumbing generally describes the careless or inadvertent error of improperly loading a magazine tube so the shell fails to engage with the feed latch abutment. This allows the shotshell to float free in the receiver, and very often jam between the shell carrier and the breech block carrier. The present invention contemplates placing a second step on the feed latch which will engage a short thumbed shotshell that had never engaged the first abutment. The two-step latch can be adapted to a variety of feed systems due to its overall universality and particularly because it will not interfere with or directly influence the feeding operation of the firearm.

The present invention relates to a feed latch for firearms and more specifically to a novel two-step feed latch for firearms which will correct a jamming condition resulting from improperly loading the magazine tube.

It was observed that when a shotshell was not inserted all the way into the magazine tube when loading the gun, there was a tendency for the shell to jam between the shell carrier and the breech block carrier. The failure to completely push the shell into the magazine tube has come to be called short thumbing. Short thumbing the shotshell produces the condition whereby the shell never engages the feed latch, and is thereby floating free of any restraints within the receiver feed mechanism. The spring of the magazine tube forces the shotshell further into the recess of the receiver, where it becomes jammed between the lifter (shell carrier) and the breech block carrier during the feed cycle. A sportsman was most apt to short thumb the shell, when hurriedly loading his gun, or doing so while wearing gloves. It was also observed that the novice might unknowingly short thumb his shotshell.

Some guns showed a decided tendency towards allowing this condition to happen, while others were relative- 1y free of the problem. This indicated that although the problem was primarily a result of human error, it nonetheless was correctable by proper design.

An investigation revealed that various parameters has an influence upon the tendency of the operator to improperly load his firearm. The most obvious factor seemed to be the gap between the front edge of the lifter and the rear of the shell, when the shotshell is retained in the magazine by the feed latch. Subsequent investigation showed, however, that there was too little correlation between this gap width and the aforementioned tendency. Other parameters exerted considerable influence so that correction of the gap width alone was not the solution. The accessibility of the magazine when loading, was an important factor. Varying carrier contours and designs had to be considered in this regard. It was also observed that one became increasingly prone to short thumb his shotshell as the magazine became filled. This was. due to the fact that the increasing spring force in the magazine tube acted against the push of the operators thumb in placing the shell into the magazine.

Consequently, I hit upon the idea of fashioning the feed latch with a two step abutment, so that despite the varying tolerances and designs of each gun, and the frailties of the operator in loading the magazine tube, the jamming condition would not take place.

The second abutment adds a little more distance between the edge of the magazine tube and feed latch engagement so that a short thumbed cartridge will be less likely to float free. The distance between the two abutments is critical. It was found that to place the abutments too far apart caused the feed mechanism to jam. If placed too close to each other, the second step had little eifect upon the short thumbing condition. Of course, the proper distance for this gap is dependent upon the individual design parameters in every firearm feed system. Once determined, however, the selected gap between the steps will Work for all guns of that design. This. is so, because the double step latch arrangement does not really effect the mechanics of the feeding system. It is more of a safety catch which initially insures that the feed cycle will commence despite human error. Thus, the present invention has a fair degree of universal application.

The two step latch configuration has been successfully adapted to the system shown in Pat. 'No. 2,719,375, issued to Crittendon et al., on Oct. 4, 1955. This is a dual action bar feed system. The feed action using the double step arrangement works in the same manner as originally planned. The righthand latch element is provided with a double abutment. The righthand shell latch is the latch that initially holds the shotshell in place within the magazine. It is at this point that correction of the short thum condition need be corrected, since this is the element which first acts to start the feed sequence.

Although the double abutment has been demonstrated to be effective in the double action bar system as shown above, it can also be used in systems employing a single bar if so desired. Again, it must be pointed out that this is possible because the two-step arrangement does not directly influence or interfere with the feeding mechanics of the systems in which it is employed.

It may be observed that certain systems appear to be structurally similar to my invention. The patents issued to: Wild, Pat. No. 2,871,603, issued Feb. 3, 1959, and Into, Pat. No. 3,165,849, issued Jan. 19, 1965- appear to be using a double abutment latch system. Neither of these devices operate in the same manner as my invention, nor is either of them concerned with the problem of short thumbing the shotshell. Both of these patents are concerned with the feeding operation per se. That is to say that both systems are entirely concerned with feeding a single shell at one time, -i.e., to avoid double loading the gun barrel. Wilds double abutment pivots in the receiver. Intos second abutment is not for contact with the shotshell, but with the camming bar so as to bias the feed latch into engagement with the shotshell.

It is interesting to note, however, that the two-step arrangement for the feed latch could probably be designed for the above systems if so desired. The Crittendon et a1. system was chosen in my initial experiments because of my preference for this gun system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety latch for feed systems in firearms that will not jam as a result of improper loading of the magazine tube.

It is another object of the invention to provide a twostep feed latch for firearms that will prevent jamming as a result of short thumbing the shotshell into the magazine.

It is contemplated to provide a double stepped abutment for feed latches in firearms that will eliminate the jamming caused by short thumbing the shell into the magazine tube, wherein the shotshell may become lodged between the litter and the breech block carrier.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the breech end of the firearm, and a shotshell that has become wedged between the shell carrier and the breech block carrier; and

FIG. 2 depicts a bottom view of the breech end of the firearm, with a shotshell resting within the magazine tube and abutting against the first step abutment of the feed latch; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the breech end of the firearm, with a shotshell resting within the magazine tube and abutting against the second step abutment of the feed latch.

Generally speaking, the present invention contemplates a feed latch for firearms having a first step means positioned on said feed latch to normally engage a shotshell resting within the magazine tube, and a second step means on said feed latch in close proximity to said first step means and positioned to engage a shotshell which has not been pushed all the way into said magazine tube so as to engage said first step means, but which has been pushed far enough into said tube to clear the free end of said carrier. The step means may be of a flat end variety, step-like in appearance as when they are cut into the side of the latch, or fashioned to resemble a hook-like abutment. In effect, any abutment shape or design which will allow for the proper engagement of the shotshell is adequate. The only critical dimension being the distance between the two abutments so that the second abutment will be spaced an adequate distance from the first step to catch a shell that does not engage the first step, but not too far from the first abutment so that the feeding operation for the shell becomes difficult, or tends to jam.

Now referring to FIG. 1, we observe a gun barrel connected to a receiver 21 along edge 29. A large walled recess 28 is shown within the receiver in order to house the breech block 14, and breech block carrier 15, which are reciprocally supported therein. A magazine tube 13 is positioned below the barrel and secured to the receiver along edge 25. The magazine tube is connected to the receiver and opens unto said recess to receive inserted shells. A spring 12 is located within the magazine tube to bias the shotshells into the recess of the receiver. The lifter 8 is hinged in the receiver at 30, and has a depressibly free end 22 for insertion of the shotshells into the magazine. A resilient feed latch 3 is provided to control the feed of the shells from the magazine and accomplishes this by alternately engaging and releasing a shotshell during the feeding cycle (see FIG. 2). The feed latch is provided with a first step (abutment) 5 and a second step 6 behind the first one.

Normally a shotshell 9 is inserted into the receiver by depressing the carrier 8 and pushing the shell into the magazine tube with ones thumb until the thumb abuts against the edge of the recess 19. If properly inserted, the shell should engage the feed latch 3 at the first abutment S, as shown in FIG. 2. But in the event the shell is not pushed all the way into the magazine tube, the shell will not engage this abutment. This condition is referred to as short thumbing. The shotshell is then floating free of any restraints within the receiver recess, and under the force of the magazine tube spring 12, will slide in behind the carrier 8. When the operator attempts to pump the gun, this shell 9 will become jammed between the liter 8 and the breech block carrier 15, as shown in FIG. 1.

The double step feed latch is designed to eliminate this jamming condition by providing a secondary abutment upon which a poorly inserted shell will be retained.

There is a gap between the lip 26 of the carrier 8 and the abutment 5 of the feed latch. It is this gap in which the shell edge 27 may pass through without having the rim 4 of the shell engage the abutment 5. If one looks at the position of the shell in FIG. 3, it can be observed that the edge 27 of the shell is just clear of the carrier lip 26, but is positioned past the first abutment 5. It is at this point that a second step 6 is cut into the latch 3, to engage the rim 4 of the shotshell. If the second abutment 6 had not been provided, the jamming condition shown in FIG. 1 would likely occur.

It is interesting to observe that the clearance area between the shell edge 27 as it is resting within the magazine tube in the normal position, and the edge of the carrier 26 will vary with different models of guns and different firearm designs, so that the placement of the second step will change in each particular case. But it is to be noted that once the proper setting is determined for that design, the same result will obtain, namely the elimination of the jamming condition. Another aspect of the invention must also be mentioned here. A second step placed too far in back of the first abutment has been noted itself to cause a jam in the feeding of the shell. Thus, the placement of the second abutment is critical.

The present design depicts fiat faced abutments for the feed latch, but it is conceivable that hook-like abutments may be used, or some other appropriate design. Such variations or modifications in the design are considered to be within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Any such change or modification is considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a firearm having a barrel connected to a receiver at its breech end, a walled recess in said receiver to accommodate the receipt of a shotshell, a breech block and breech block carrier reciprocably supported within said recess, a magazine tube secured to said receiver and opening into said recess for the insertion of shells, a carrier hinged at one end in said recess and depressibly free at its other end to allow for the insertion and feeding of shells within the recess, a spring in said magazine tube bias the shells toward the recess, a resilient feed latch disposed within said recess to alternately engage and release a shotshell during the feeding cycle, the invention comprising:

a first step means positioned on said feed latch to normally engage a shotshell resting within the magazine tube; and

a second step means on said feed latch in close proximity to said first step means and positioned to engage a shotshell which has not been pushed all the way into said magazine tube so as to engage said first step means, but which has been pushed far enough into said magazine tube so as to clear the free end of said carrier.

2. The feed latch of claim 1, wherein the first step means further comprises a substantially flat end face abutment on a forward end of said feed latch.

3. The feed latch of claim 1, wherein the second step means further comprises a substantially fiat step-like abutment on said feed latch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,719,375 10/1955 Crittendon et al. 42-17 2,871,603 2/1959 Wild 42-17 3,165,849 1/1965 Into 42-17 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner C. T. JORDAN, Assistant Examiner 

